Employers in Hong Kong like to pride themselves on treating maids with dignity and compassion compared to the Middle East. But in a gossip column published on am730 earlier this month, a writer known simply as CK eavesdropped on a conversation about domestic workers at a birthday party.
He reported that one local employer bragged about how “nice” she had been to her new Filipino maid. She also pointed out that her domestic worker was her “seventh or eighth” in the past few years.
“I am her savior,” she said, referring to the maid’s last job in the Middle East, where she worked for a family of 10 and started work at 4am every day.
During the two years the maid worked in the Middle East, she was not allowed to take any holidays. “I have saved her from hell, so she can enjoy a good life in Hong Kong,” the employer told friends.
Yet these are just the basic human rights that all people deserve, CK said in his article. Domestic workers should not be treated as bonded servants, forced to work long hours without days off and holidays, he pointed out.
“Chinese employers should express their gratitude and be loyal to their domestic workers,” CK wrote. “They should treat their employees well and become better people.”
Amo ko mabait…kaya mbait din ko sa knila…pero may sumpong din sila…walang perfect ????
Well said…
Exactly!!!
But still many chinese employers are bad to their helpers. Mainland chinese employers are not good too…. domestic workers are not slaves. They are human with feelings and with out them, employers can not enjoy freedom like going out at night for party etc etc.
it’s a must because we’re all the same we’re all human beings..
I need to go back at my employer"s house at 8pm ,hot pot sila,syempre have to wait for them to tidy up the kitchen ang nakakainis lang kwentuhan cla while eating,,,,,
Exactly!
She dont have to brag about her maid,its shown only that shes not a good employer actually they don’t care about the welfare of their helper,specialy food and working time,well not all but most of them,example my employer she doesn’t care at all ,because all she thinks is she’s giving the salary,,,the one I don’t like at all,it’s almost every month I have to ask my salary,coz she’s not giving it on right time,and I hate it,coz that money I work for it already,and I have been so stress to ask always,coz we filipinos its not our culture,,but what can I do,i need to work for my family,i just put always in my mind that im not forever here in hongkong,
Eh, who knows? Maybe *this* employer actually is genuinely good or generous. The article doesn’t say anything about how this particular employer actually does treat the helper. Some employers give bonuses, have set work hours and free hours, pay for their helper to return home for holidays, etc.
And perhaps the "fly on the wall" didn’t understand the employer’s point. Perhaps they were trying to point to the plight of other workers and in their own way advocate for better treatment of domestic helpers by way of contrast.
Now, if the speaker was known to simply treat the helper strictly in accordance with the law and wasn’t generous, but considered the mere act of employing a helper as "nice" then fair enough–but the article doesn’t say anything like that. We have only the writer’s word that there was bragging and only an assumption that the employer considers mere compliance with the law "nice".
If you want to report on the issue, do everyone a service and find out more. Get the facts. Find out how the helper is actually treated. Interview the employee about their employment practices. Follow up. Be a journalist.
I agree that the condition of domestic helpers in Hong Kong is poor. I think articles about poor attitudes of employers deserve to be written, but it deserves much better quality and much more thorough treatment. Reporting hearsay as a "fly on the wall" isn’t good enough.
You nailed it ????????????
If you are a good employer, you dont need to brag how good you are. As good human being, no need to tell anyone what good have you done to others.
Lilibeth Ladao I also related to this situation….big check,
Exactly..eh pagkatapos ng holiday d p.man naiibaba ang gamit ayan.utos dito utos don nonstop!!!????
Not all employers in Middles east like that.Here in Hong kong if your time to work you can’t get a reast even 15 minutes only you reast if time to eat.But in middlest you have time to reast even you dint have holiday or day off you not gonna be tired like here in Hong kong and all you need is free in middle east and you can eat what you want.
Lilibeth Ladao
Well said…
relate po aq jan.
Its crazy thought,, different countries have different cultures,, middle east although the maid doesn’t have off day,,at least the employers buys everything for their maid,while here n HK it is mandatory that the maid should off at least once a week,,no need to brag in the media how good u r madam bcos that is ur responsibility as a employer,,wait till ur maid will say that u r good to her,,,
Not all chinese employers are good to their maid maybe some or most of them are evil too????????????
Mam if the employer gossiping about their helper and how they are thankful about you I think you just harboring some praise to your friend,just wait your helper announced publicly,im sure that the real score..be educated mam,your helper is not moron!!!
Magawa nga din po yan kc sumusobra na amo ko eh
only the HELPERS/EMPLOYEE can say if the employer is GOOD or BAD… ????
and I’m proud to say that my EMPLOYERS are very GOOD ????????
oh yes some of the workers are overworked
Well, I have worked for 11 years to past employer but because they have to move to Canada. I have to work to another employer. My past employer are kind and treated me as part of their family which makes me happy and willing to extend my full help or support to their family, I was so blessed that i am receiving above minimum salary and aside from other benefits like birthday,Christmas and Red Pockets and etc. Now, to my future employer, I am also happy working with them because they respect and has been treating me well. I do have my own privacy and has carried my salary from my past employer which makes me even more happier. I don’t deny that I am one of those lucky person who came to work in Hongkong and I pity and feel bad for those who were not being treated well by their employers. Above all of thise blessings I am receiving right now, I AWE IT FROM GOD. I NEVER STOP THANKING ???? HIM FOR MY EVERYDAY BLESSINGS. “ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me besides quite waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalms 23:1-6…… God Bless Us All
A helper is not the same as a maid
Maribel Ursolino tama bakit ganon sila dimo man lang marinig na bukas na lng you take a rest..akala mo angsarap mag day off,tapos nasa labas ka uutusan na naman agad pagkadating,di naman tayo robot’
Lilibeth Ladao wow good for you sis
Sleep out? I don’t understand. I thought it was illegal to sleep out- for any reason! Do you mean go out?
Tessa Logan-Wright no, it’s not illegal to sleep out. That’s between the employer and the helper’ s agreement.its a normal practice to helpers to seek permission to sleep out .of course if the boss says no then helper has to comply.